I’m getting geared up for the trip of a lifetime. I’m going to the South of France on a pilgrimage of sorts. I’ll be in the company of a like-minded band of sisters (mostly…) following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene, taking a dip in the Mediterranean, climbing a couple of small mountains, paying homage to martyrs and saints, delving the mysteries of Rennes le Chateau and not thinking about autism, seizures, vaccination policy, dishes, bowel health…etc. I’ll be thinking about food A LOT, but I’m going to be in France. Duh.

But prepping to go away for 2 weeks is taxing my organizational skills. My husband is a master strategist (seriously, I think he planned D-Day in a previous life) and our sitter will be on hand during the days. But I still need to scaffold everything for the kids and the dog. (OMG, I’m going to miss that puppy so much!)

Food prep:

I need to lay out what to feed the wee bairns for breakfast and lunch. The teen gets a section in the freezer given over to:

flax muffins

GF cookies and brownies

GF bread and bagels

smoothie packs (frozen kale, mango, blueberries, and strawberries)

prepped meatballs and marinara sauce

pre-formed burger patties

nitrate-free turkey dogs

The fridge is loaded with yogurt and fresh fruit and there are organic corn chips in the cupboard. He’s responsible for feeding himself.

You know those pill boxes at the pharmacy next to all the safety rails, incontinence pads, and non-slip canes? Yep. Everyone’s got two of those, pre-loaded. My son who has 2x a day meds has a case with AM and PM.

Managing on the road:

I’m going on a tour and have communicated–pretty thoroughly, I pray–my food allergies and intolerances. Rumor has it there’s a gluten-free French bakery somewhere on the trip. I’ve downloaded an app on my iPhone for translating on my allergies for those meals I find on my own. AND, I’m packing a generous assortment of dry protein shakes, a shaker bottle, and nut-based bars, like Lara bars. I may be the only person ever to leave for France scared to eat, but I’ll manage.

I’m packing some allergy meds, digestive enzymes, and a shelf-stable probiotic to help avoid GI distress on the trip.